Death In Custody Reporting Act (DICRA)

The Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) collects and disseminates data on deaths that occur in local jails, state prisons, and during the process of arrest through its Deaths in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP). This program was initiated by an act of Congress (The Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2000, Public Law 106-297), which required the collection of individual death records for these fatalities.

Arrest-Related Deaths

DCJS is the collecting agency for all arrest-related deaths in New York State. Arrest-related deaths are deaths that occur during the process of arrest by state and local law enforcement agencies, and only include persons who die under the following circumstances:

In physical custody, or under the physical restraint of law enforcement officers, even if the person was not formally under arrest at the time;

Killed by any use of force by law enforcement officers;

Killed in vehicular pursuit accidents;

At the crime or arrest scene or medical facility prior to booking;

While in transit to or from law enforcement or medical facilities; and

While confined in lockups or booking centers (facilities from which arrestees are usually transferred within 72 hours and not held beyond arraignment);

While in the custody of state or local law enforcement personnel responding to a medical or mental health assistance or welfare call.

DCJS identifies the majority of the arrest-related deaths in New York State through review of news articles. However, local law enforcement agencies should inform DCJS if an arrest-related death occurs in their jurisdiction by filling out the Federal Arrest-Related Death Report.

Forms

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Crime Reporting Unit
Alfred E. Smith Building
80 South Swan St.
Albany, New York 12210
Or
Fax: (518) 485-8039

NOTE: The arrest-related death information collected by DCJS is not retained by New York State, but is forwarded to BJS for inclusion in their national database which is used to publish both in-depth analytical reports and online statistical tables. These reports can be found on the BJS website at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/